Ten years ago the residents of the R-P school district, in a bonding referendum, overwhelmingly told the district they wanted their current facilities maintained and improved. Several things the district deemed necessary were done (such as new bleac
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"Where Fillmore County News Comes First"
Online Edition
Sunday, May 19th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 5:56:33, May 18th 2013 - modgudur - I guess the child is anti-gun control since Obama went to all that trouble ... [Read More]
- 9:27:41, May 16th 2013 - caal girl - Nice outfit on you. I loved some of the dresses but am holding my breath ... [Read More]
- 2:03:34, May 14th 2013 - - Thanks for sharing the trip with us! ... [Read More]
- 4:12:01, May 9th 2013 - Amanda Ziebell - Wow! Thanks to the Fillmore County Journal for this kind story. For a ... [Read More]
- 11:47:30, May 7th 2013 - EW - ramble.....ramble.....ramble..... ... [Read More]
- 10:25:25, May 7th 2013 - Thunder6 - Great article! I love to see the Youth of Fillmore County receiveing acco ... [Read More]
- 6:52:10, May 6th 2013 - Jason Sethre, Publisher of Fillmore County Journal & Olmsted County Journal - Maryh, ... [Read More]
- 7:29:56, May 5th 2013 - maryh - Where are OCJ's available for pickup...other than at the new office? ... [Read More]
- 2:41:47, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, I just looked up Senate File 796 and in it there are said p ... [Read More]
- 2:22:20, May 3rd 2013 - Remark1976 - Mrs. Buckbee, how do you come up with $1.1 billion that trout fishing bri ... [Read More]
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Guest Commentary: Balance sheet approach to frac sand mining decisions
Fri, Apr 26th, 2013
Posted in Rushford Commentary
Posted in Rushford Commentary
Comments
Bryan Van Gorp
By Bryan Van Gorp, Rushford, MN
Let’s look at the economic, social, and environmental pros and cons to frac sand mining in SE Mn.
Economic impact
Dr. Steven Deller an economist from U of W who studied sand mining in Western Wisconsin says there are both plus and minus impacts.
Plus - there will be some decent paying jobs created
Plus - for each mining job there will be a multiplier affect of about 1/10 job created in surrounding communities (most purchasing will be done outside local communities at major shopping hubs)
Plus - a few land owners and mining companies will make substantial profits
Minus - flicker affect – cycles of boom and bust based on price fluctuations resulting in increased unemployment
Minus - increased healthcare costs for local residence
Minus- decreasing population, he repeated several times that no one wants to live next to these things
Minus - decreased property values of 50 percent adjacent to the mine with decreasing impact out to 3 to 5 miles and along haul routes
Minus - decreased income from other sources such as tourism
His conclusion was basically no net economic gain or loss, it is a wash.
Social impact
Plus - no positive impact on quality of life other than the economic impact discussed earlier
Minus - increase in truck traffic resulting in more accidents, dust, noise, and slower commutes
Minus - increased road repair at tax payer expense
Minus - has already been proven to divide the community
Minus - decreased natural beauty and enjoyment of our environment
Minus - possible increase health problems caused by silicosis, diesel fumes, polyacrylamide use, as expressed by Dr. Feyereisn from Mayo Clinic
Minus - possible loss of springs, wells, and water contamination, this is likely if washing, processing, and mining near the water table are allowed
Net social impact is clearly negative.
Environmental impact
This is most important because a healthy economy or society is dependent on a healthy environment.
Plus - nothing conceivable
Minus - taking down scenic bluffs and scaring the landscape as is happening now in Wisconsin
Minus - decreased air quality from silica dus .....
[Read the Rest]
Let’s look at the economic, social, and environmental pros and cons to frac sand mining in SE Mn.
Economic impact
Dr. Steven Deller an economist from U of W who studied sand mining in Western Wisconsin says there are both plus and minus impacts.
Plus - there will be some decent paying jobs created
Plus - for each mining job there will be a multiplier affect of about 1/10 job created in surrounding communities (most purchasing will be done outside local communities at major shopping hubs)
Plus - a few land owners and mining companies will make substantial profits
Minus - flicker affect – cycles of boom and bust based on price fluctuations resulting in increased unemployment
Minus - increased healthcare costs for local residence
Minus- decreasing population, he repeated several times that no one wants to live next to these things
Minus - decreased property values of 50 percent adjacent to the mine with decreasing impact out to 3 to 5 miles and along haul routes
Minus - decreased income from other sources such as tourism
His conclusion was basically no net economic gain or loss, it is a wash.
Social impact
Plus - no positive impact on quality of life other than the economic impact discussed earlier
Minus - increase in truck traffic resulting in more accidents, dust, noise, and slower commutes
Minus - increased road repair at tax payer expense
Minus - has already been proven to divide the community
Minus - decreased natural beauty and enjoyment of our environment
Minus - possible increase health problems caused by silicosis, diesel fumes, polyacrylamide use, as expressed by Dr. Feyereisn from Mayo Clinic
Minus - possible loss of springs, wells, and water contamination, this is likely if washing, processing, and mining near the water table are allowed
Net social impact is clearly negative.
Environmental impact
This is most important because a healthy economy or society is dependent on a healthy environment.
Plus - nothing conceivable
Minus - taking down scenic bluffs and scaring the landscape as is happening now in Wisconsin
Minus - decreased air quality from silica dus .....
[Read the Rest]
Why vote ‘YES’ for R-P Referendum?
Fri, Dec 14th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Commentary
Posted in Rushford Commentary
By Angela Colbenson
R-P School Board Chair
On December 19, Rushford Peterson school district will be asking their voters to approve up to 15 million dollars to be utilized for building a new elementary building plus utilize a small portion to reha
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Why build now, why build in two phases, and why build an elementary first?
Fri, Dec 7th, 2012
Posted in Rushford Commentary
Posted in Rushford Commentary
Submitted by Robin Honken, Ruth Peterson, Anne Spartz
Most of us know the issues with both the Peterson and Rushford Facilities. If you don’t, we ask that you request a tour of the buildings and see for yourself the crumbling walls, inefficient s
.....
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